Brian Baker, D.C.

The sacroiliac joints (SIJ) sit between the sacrum (tailbone) and ilium (pelvis), which serve to connect the spine and pelvis and facilitate load transfer from the low back to the lower extremities. Generally, when we consider the cause of a patient’s low back pain, the first place investigated is the lumbar spine. But as it [..]

According to a systematic review that included 201 studies, low back pain may affect between 10-67% of athletes at any given moment, with anywhere from 17-94% experiencing sports-related back pain each year. This broad range is due to the age, level of competition, and the specific sports included in each study. For example, the data [..]

In addition to manual therapies and other treatments provided in a chiropractic office, patients with chronic low back pain are often advised to exercise—specifically the core muscles—as part of the recovery process. Is there a protocol that’s best for engaging the core muscles? In 2018, researchers recruited 34 chronic low back pain patients and assigned [..]

In a chiropractor’s ideal world, people would do everything possible to reduce their risk for a condition like low back pain, and in the event a low back injury occurs, they’d seek care right away. Barring any red flags that necessitate a referral to a specialist or a trip to the emergency room, the patient [..]

The thoracic portion of the spine the longest part of the spine and is made up of twelve vertebrae (T1-T12), which lies between the cervical spine (C1-C7) and the lumbar spine (L1-L5). The thoracic spine protects the very important spinal cord that begins in the brain and runs down to approximately T12 where the cord [..]

Past research has shown that weak core muscles can affect spinal stability, which can increase one’s risk for low back pain. This is why low back pain patients are often advised to either become physically active or remain as active as possible, not only to aid in the management of their present condition but also [..]

Statistically, low back pain is a condition that will affect nearly 90% of people, and it’s both a leading cause of disability and the primary reason patients visit a chiropractor. In addition to manual therapies provided in the office (like spinal manipulation), chronic low back pain patients are generally advised to stay or become more [..]

The approach a doctor of chiropractic will take to manage low back pain will differ depending if the injury is new (acute), recent (subacute), or has persisted for three months or longer (chronic). Though some management tools overlap between each group, each stage of injury includes unique challenges that require specific interventions. ACUTE LOW BACK [..]

Functional loss is a term used to describe the inability to carry out necessary activities of daily living such as bathing, getting dressed, getting out of bed, standing up, walking, using the bathroom, and eating. According to experts, spinal pain is a leading cause of functional loss, especially among older adults, often due to age-associated [..]

Chiropractic care is a great conservative treatment option for the low back pain patient. While many patients visit a chiropractor to avoid progressing to surgery, there are individuals with a history of back pain who did opt for surgery but continue to experience pain and disability. Can a doctor of chiropractic help the post-surgery low [..]